The Detroit Red Wings have shown that they can build a lead. Now they'd like to demonstrate that they can keep it.

They take a seven-game point streak up against the Buffalo Sabres tonight at Joe Louis Arena (7:30, FSD). The Wings have gone past regulation four straight games and have lost two of those times -- both to division rivals.

"I hope we continue to have leads late," coach Jeff Blashill said after the morning skate, adding, "can we build on those leads, so that when mistakes happen, and mistakes absolutely are going to happen, it doesn't result in the game being tied?"

Petr Mrazek is in net for a second straight start, the first time Blashill has veered from flipping his goaltenders since Mrazek started two games in a row Nov. 18 and 20. It doesn't appear to be a sign that Blashill sees much separation, though, as he already has announced that Jimmy Howard will start Thursday. It is, though, the third time Mrazek has had two straight starts, while Howard has not started consecutive games since mid-October.

There are a couple of other changes, as Teemu Pulkkinen and Brendan Smith return after being scratched for the last game. Pulkkinen has been on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Richards, but that spot now goes to Darren Helm, as he adds speed and a net-front presence to the group. Pulkkinen drops down to play with Drew Miller and Luke Glendening, but look for him to get time on power plays, too.

Blashill didn't want to tinker with his other two lines, which have Henrik Zetterberg with Dylan Larkin and Justin Abdelkader, and Riley Sheahan with Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar.

Smith is back with Alexey Marchenko, with the other defense pairings featuring Niklas Kronwall with Mike Green and Danny DeKeyser with Jonathan Ericsson.

This is the first of five meetings between the Atlantic Division neighbors. The Sabres changed coaches over the summer, hiring former Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Dan Bylsma. The highlight of Buffalo's summer came on draft day, when it selected Jack Eichel, who has eight goals and four assists in 24 games.